| Computing Setup |
- Choose Your Computer
Description:
I recommend that you use a computer that runs Windows (either Windows 10 or
Windows 11) or a recent release of macOS.
While the software that we will be using for this course does run on Linux, there
will be substantially less technical support available for Linux.
If you are considering using a Linux computer, please consult with me beforehand.
- Install Anaconda
Description: Anaconda is an open data science platform that provides access to a coordinated set
of
Python tools. We will be using Anaconda to build Python virtual environments. These
virtual
environments provide the correct version of Python and related packages for the work
that we
will be doing in the course. Please read the
Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system
to Install
Anaconda.
- Update Anaconda
Description: In order to be sure that we have the most up-to-date versions of Python packages,
we need to update Anacconda. This step needs to be done even if you just installed
Anaconda for the first time in the previous step. Please read the
Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system
to Update
Anaconda.
- Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment
Description: In this step, we create our first Anaconda virtual environment.
Please read the
Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system
to
Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment.
- Install PyCharm Professional
Description: PyCharm Professional is a leading Python Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
I will be using PyCharm Profession in my tutorial videos and I will expect
you to use PyCharm Professional when completing your assignments.
JetBrains, the makers of PyCharm Professional, offer free licenses to this and a number
of other
products to university students and faculty. Please read the
Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system
to
Install PyCharm Professional.
- Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment For IS439
Description: In this step, we create our second Anaconda virtual environment.
This is the virtual environment that we will be using for most assignments
in this course.
Please read the
Instructions document below. Then, play the tutorial video for your operating system
to
Create an Anaconda Virtual Environment.
- Learn About Git
Description:
Using the Git version control system has become a basic programmer skill that
everyone should master. Having said that, I want to point out that the only time
that you will be required to use Git during this course is for the very last coding
assignment in which we deploy the EZ University (EZU) Django application.
This does not take place until Week 14.
Nevertheless, many
of you will want to be using git from the very beginning of the course. Most of
our textbooks are written with the assumption that you will be using Git. More important,
having your code in a Git repository gives you the ability to back out recent changes
and recover from mistakes. I have come to prefer GitHub
as my Git repository vendor and GitHub Desktop as my graphical Git client. While
you are free to choose whichever Git-related tools you want to use, these are tools
that
I am currently recommending. I have included one link below to a LinkedIn Learning
course
that address Git. No single course at LinkedIn Learning perfectly addresses
the exact list of Git-related skills needed for our course. I am expecting you to
find your way to the combination of resources that works for you. I invite you to
share
any helpful resources that you find with other students using our Open Discussion
Forum.
- Install a Graphical Git Client
Description:
Natively, Git is a command line tool. Many people use Git at the command line very
comfortably. Yet, many of us like graphical tools. If that includes you, then you
will want to pick a graphical Git client and install that for your use. PyCharm
includes a graphical Git client. It is not my favorite. But, I use it when I must.
Currently, my preferred graphical Git client is GitHub Desktop. I have included links
below for that and some other graphical Git clients that you may want to consider.
- Sign Up for GitHub Account
Description:
When using Git, you will need to set up an account with a remote repository service
provider.
This allows you to share your code with others and it allows you to use Git to deploy
code
on any server. In our course, we will be using GitHub as our remote repository service
provider.
If you don't already have an account with GitHub, we recommend that you set one up
now.
Register for a free account and remember to register with your Illinois email address.
We have
provided a link to GitHub below.
- Sign Up for a PythonAnywhere Account
Description: In our couse, we will be using PythonAnywhere accounts to deploy Django
apps on a free server. You will not be required to deploy a Django application
to the server until our very last coding assignment. Nevertheless, some of you
might want to try deployment earlier. You might even want to try to deploy the
code that you create in the first coding assignment. Whenever you deploy, you
will need to have set up a PythonAnywhere account.
I have included a link below that you may use to sign up for your
free PythonAnywhere account. If possible, use your Illinois user-id as your user-id
for PythonAnywhere. If that username is already taken, then pick a username that might
might help us identify you more easily.
- Install LucidChart
Description: We will be using LucidChart as the diagrammer for this course. In this activity, we
access LucidChart using
our browser. You can begin using LucidChart immediately using the version that is
free-to-everyone. Nevertheless,
you should get access to one of the other two versions described below. The first
is a
free-to-students version. The second is a paid version for students that is available
through
the Illinois Webstore. Both of these have more functionality than the free-to-everyone
version.
- LucidChart Free For Everyone Account . LucidChart makes a very limited version of its diagrammer free-to-everyone. You
can
sign up for a free account using this link.
- LucidChart Free Educational License .
LucidChart makes a less limited version of its diagrammer free-to-students. You can
sign up for a free account using this link. This is the version that I demonstrate
during the tutorial videos. While this is not as limited as the free-to-everyone
version,
it has lesser functionality than the paid license version. It sometimes takes a while
to get your license for this version. If you are waiting, start out with the free-to-everyone
version
while you wait.
- Lucid Suite Premium Education Plan for Students .
This is a version that can be purchased through the Illinois Webstore for $45.
It has fewer limitations than the other two. I have not used it personally and
I would be interested in getting feedback from students who decide to try it.
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